How do stem cells divide?
When a stem cell divides, each so-called “daughter” cell has the potential to remain a stem cell or become a cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a blood cell or a brain cell, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Embryonic stem cells can become one of more than 200 specialized cells in the body, thus providing a potentially unlimited source of cells for medical and scientific purposes. They act as the body’s own repair kit. The key is figuring out how to grow them in a controlled way and to make them take on the exact job needed. The hope is that someday they will help treat dozens of diseases and injuries.
